"Your Daily Tripod" reflects the personal Fourth Day journeys of its authors and editors. We are happy to have companions like you share in this project. Our prayer is that these reflections will invite and inspire your Fourth Day journey of Piety, Study and Action as much as writing or editing them inspires our journey and brings us all close moments with Jesus and our neighbors.

Friday, July 17, 2015

He Withdrew

Since the dough they
had brought out of Egypt was not leavened, they baked it into unleavened
loaves. They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity even to prepare food
for the journey…This was a night of vigil for the LORD, as he led them out of
the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the children of Israel must keep a
vigil for the LORD throughout their generations.Exodus 12:39,42

When Jesus realized
this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them
all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had
been spoken through Isaiah the prophet.Matthew
12:15-17

Piety

“Blessed
are You, Lord our God, Master of the universe, Who sanctifies us with his
commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.”

Study

The
readings today united the Hebrew Bible with the New Testament through stories
of runaways.

First,
we have the children of Israel fleeing the land of Egypt on the order of the Pharaoh
to get out of town.After being enslaved
for 430 years they began an Exodus from which emerged the Jewish holiday of
Succoth/Sukkot.Then, in the Good News, we encounter
Jesus fleeing his native land as the Pharisees hatch a plot to kill him.

Maybe
the song for today should be “Born to Run.”Tramps like us, baby we were born to run.The flight from Egypt and the flight from
Nazareth epitomize the lack of creature comforts for the life of the prophet. They did not even have time to bake a proper
loaf of bread. While the temporal king
has all the cushions and tassels and robes and crowns, the true prophet has no place
to lay his head.

Succoth
remains a major Jewish festival (usually in late September or early
October).This year it will be marked
from September 27, 2015 - nightfall October 4, 2015.The days commemorate the shelters and shacks
that the Israelites used during their 40-year Exodus in the wilderness after
leaving the comfortable enslavement of Egypt.These days, Jewish families will build small structures in their yard as
a reminder of the flight from Egypt.They
will withdraw from the comforts of their homes to live in Sukkot, eating and
sleeping there as a reminder of the Exodus.

At
the end of this joyful festival, the final prayer ends, “Next year in
Jerusalem!”How ironic that for Jesus,
his joy of flight turned to tears of crucifixion when he fulfilled that prayer
and was executed in the Holy City.

The
festival also is known as the Feast of the Booths or the Feast of the Tabernacles.It also is marked in every Catholic Church to
this day with a booth where Jesus lives…the Tabernacle on the altar.

The
Bible is chock full of stories of other homelessness and wandering. Two of the
biggest stories about Mary and Joseph are journey stories.First, the young couple took a journey from
home in Nazareth to the census in Bethlehem.We know what happened there in the barn-turned-shelter.Then from Bethlehem, the young family fled –
ironically – back to Egypt until Jesus could have his own New Exodus home.Yet even among his own kin, Jesus was never
safe.Someone or something was always
gaining on him from the devil in the desert to Herod.

Isaiah
explains the Jesus is not a fighter.He
withdraws from fights.”He will not contend or cry out, nor will
anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a
smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in
his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:19-21 or Isaiah 42:1-4)

The
real meaning here is NOT the journey.NOT the flight.But that through
it all, Jesus continued to pursue his ministry.“Many people followed him, and he cured them all.”

Action

How
persistent would you be in your mission?When you face opposition, do you fold up your tents and go home?Or to you stick to your position and defend
it against all opponents?Will you “rough
it” in the deserted place for the Lord?

How
sturdy is the home of your body and mind and spirit that you are building where
the Lord can live?

Coming
Attractions:Jesus actually instructs us to go
away on our own Exodus to a deserted place.Tune in tomorrow for that lesson!